A Visit to Elle & Carson’s magical land of Palo Alto

While Dave was in China last week, Lu and I took the opportunity to take a weekend to go visit Elle and Carson in their new stomping grounds. They moved to Palo Alto in June and we have been dying to get there.

And I’m here to say that place really is a magical land. Let’s take a little walk together right out their front door:

A Palo Alto Walk

What’s that you say? Redwood trees growing out of the sidewalk? Yep. That is truth. Also hydrangeas the size of a watermelon.

Lu and I were in awe of every little detail that has become so “regular” for Elle.

We stopped for a yummy breakfast:

And just basked in all that beauty.

Including flowers just spilling out next to the stop sign.

Like I said on Instagram, here’s just a normal street with some abnormal beauty:

Stanford University

Stanford University is also right down the street from where Elle and Carson live.

I have visited here numerous times with two sisters who lived here an MFME trip and also with four of my five kids when they were little. I think it’s so funny to look back at those pictures of Elle with her fedora hat. How could we ever know we’d be walking those same paths all these years later with her living there??

Anyway, every time we visit it’s pretty special and this time was no exception with my oldest and youngest girls.

Gates of Hell

Especially since this time we got our own personal “tour” of Rodin’s masterpiece The Gates of Hell. A guy happened to be there who had done some extensive research on that thing and he spilled out so much I had never thought of:

• If you don’t see the snake you haven’t gone through pain
• The centaur in the left column is wounded. While most centaurs are bad (according to our “guide”) but this one was good because he experienced pain, had incurable malady. I thought this was so interesting. Do we not really live until we go through pain. Interesting to listen to with Lucy at my side who is so deeply saddened by her pain.
• The Stanford family itself didn’t escape pain. Their 15 year old son died, such a tragedy. Because of this pain, they wanted to take all of California “sons” under their wings and started Stanford university. They were deeply invested in Rodin’s work and getting it to the campus.
• Our new friend talked about the scope of sorrow and what a tool it can be to help us see the big picture
• Interesting that so many artists have struggled with mental illness.

I just wanted to remember those thoughts. Especially since there is sorrow and pain in so many levels and dimensions all around me.

Loved these girls listening intently…at least for a little while!

Elle & Carson’s Apartment

Elle and Carson have the greatest spot right amidst all that Palo Alto wonder. Elle and I got to plant some beans and carrots on their porch. I’m so excited because apparently those puppies are already sprouting.

Carson was on call all weekend, and he sure got “called” a lot. He is learning SO MUCH and working so hard. We were so excited to get him any time we could.

Hot Yoga

Elle and I got to do Core Power Yoga (one of our favorite things, and yikes, we sure sweat that one out!)

Games & Cookies

Games and cookies are always a must when we get together. Lucy whipped up some cookie dough before we left (her favorite is the spice cookies right now, I think she’s willing Fall to get here). She knows to put it in the freezer and get it frozen to get through security and then we bake those things wherever we go.

San Francisco

Oh how I love San Francisco. And Lu missed out when I took the kids last time (she was too little), so I was excited that she was excited to explore that place. She actually did come when she, Grace, Claire, and I did the coast of California road trip, but she was too little to remember anything.

So this was fun. We went at “Lucy pace” which made us just slow down and enjoy.

Lombard street

Ghirardelli Square

Of course this and a Ghirardelli mint brownie sundae are on a “Lucy-speed” visit to San Francisco:

Tony’s Pizza

We ate at Tony’s in the Italian district right by Washington Square and I would highly recommend. If you go, get the Vodka pie with the agave dipping sauce. ten out of ten for sure.

The GGB

The GGB (Golden Gate Bridge) is one of my favorites ever. I don’t know why, but man I LOVE that thing. It’s been fun to bike across it with college girlfriends, sisters, and also with my four bigger kids all those years ago.

The San Francisco fog (nicknamed “Carl” I guess?) covered it from one side, so we were worried when we drove across, but all was clear on the other side.

The city was sure covered in “Carl” from that vantage point though!

Lucy was pretty enamored and that makes me so, so happy.

Muir Woods

I already talked about Muir Woods but only with one picture. So here are some more:

It really was so sacred to be there amidst that “Cathedral” of beauty, Lucy’s piano music playing from her iPhone, the stream bubbling nearby.

Back to Palo Alto

Some things not pictured that Lu and I want to remember:

• Driving home late, more cards with Carson
• Watched the first part of Princess Diaries (of course, because it’s filmed in San Francisco)
• Went to church and met some of Elle and Carson’s nicest new friends
• Had a really good Relief society lesson all about prayer that really hit me

Dish Hike

Hiked this Stanford “Dish Hike” in the sun. It was hot, but pretty beautiful and Carson was able to join us.

Got to talk to Claire all together, and also, Somi Somi which Elle had been talking up to Lu:

And then it was the end.

We got on our delayed flight, got home super late, and were so happy to reunite with Dave who had been in China for the whole week and got in a few hours before we did.

Goodbye Palo Alto until next time. Thanks for taking such good care of some of our favorites.

Other Trips to San Francisco

• How to get your children to want to go to Stanford (obviously didn’t work for me;)
• San Francisco with my college girlfriends
• The end of our Mother/Daughter California coast road trip